DE19708385A1 - Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an optoelectronic component operating at different wavelength channels. The aim is to make it possible to individually vary the wavelength of each of the various wavelength channels. According to the invention, said optoelectronic component is based on multisections created in at least one curved waveguide of the component. The multisections are configured by means of at least one separating groove (6) running above the curved waveguide. According to the invention, said groove is configured in such a way that a resistance of at least 10 ohm is generated between the individual sections so that each section can be supplied with a separate control current. The arrangement and depth of the separating grooves (6) corresponds to the curvature of the waveguide, whereby the curvature function yi(x) of the waveguide is calculated on the basis of optimizations supported by model computations. Wavelength tunable optoelectronic components have a key function in wavelength multiplex processes during data transmission in optical fibres. Principal areas of application include laser lines, laser amplifier lines, converter lines and filter lines.

Description

The optoelectronic component according to the invention relates among other things in the field of wavelength tunable lasers and laser lines.

There are numerous publications and patents in the field of fixed frequency or fixed wavelength laser lines. Representative are:
K. Sato et al. IEEE Phot. Technol. Lett. 3: 501 (1991). CE Zah, et al. Electron. Lett. 27: 1041 (1991).

Furthermore, multi-section components tunable in wavelength are known. The following works are given as examples of this topic:
S. Murata et al. Optical and Quantum Electronics 22, 1 (1990).
K. Dutta et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 48, 1501 (1986).
M. Kuznetsov, J. Lightw. Technol. 12, 2100 (1994).
Y. Tohmori et al. IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 29, 1817 (1993).

Solutions are known which are based on a semiconductor component with multi-section DFB lasers lying laterally next to one another. With these solutions, the wavelength is tuned via individual current injection into the sections of each laser in the laser line. A disadvantage of this component is that the range of wavelength tuning is very small. Examples are:
K. Sato et al. IEEE J. Quantum Electronics 29, 1805 (1993).
H. Yasaka et al. IEEE Phot. Technol. Lett. 1, 75 (1989).

Other solutions are based on a semiconductor device with laterally adjacent multi-section DBR lasers. Here the wavelength tuning was achieved via individual current injection into the sections of each laser in the laser line. As an example:
Y. Kato et al. Int. Conf. on InP and Related Compounds 1995, Technical Digest WA 1.4.

Another known solution is based on a laser line, in which each individual laser can be thermally tuned with a thin metal film resistance heater. Such a solution was described, for example, in the following publication:
Li, et al. IEEE photon. Technol. Lett. 8, 22 (1996).
Lo et al. J. Lightwave Technology 11, 619 (1993).

The use of tilted waveguides on homogeneous DFB grating fields, which define an effective grating period in the waveguide, is also known. The effective grating period correlates with the grating period of the homogeneous grating and the tilt angle of the grating ϕ. Please refer
M.-A. Diforte, FR-A-2 417 866 (1978).
WT Tsang et al. IEEE photon. Technol. Lett. %, 978 (1993).
WT Tsang, EP 0 641 053 A1.

The calculation of the mode structure and the threshold current density, ie the definition of the curvature functions of the waveguide is done by means of model calculations, which, for. B. based on the theory of coupled modes. Please refer
K. Kogelnik and CV Shank, J. Appl. Phys. 43, 2327 (1972).

Curved waveguides on homogeneous DFB grating fields can be used to define gratings with an axially varied grating period. Please refer
Shoji et al. DE 36 43 361 A1, (1987).
DA Ackerman, U.S. 5,052,015 (1991).

3-section lasers with DFB gratings with an axially varied grating period have been described in H. Ishii, EP 0 559 192 A2 (1993).
H. Hillmer et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 65, 2130 (1994).

The aim of the invention is an optoelectronic Component that is on different wavelength channels works, which varies individually in the wavelength can be. Such components come one Key function for wavelength division multiplexing at data transmission in glass fibers. Such trained optoelectronic components can for example as laser lines, laser amplifier lines and filter lines.

The technical task is to develop one Structure for an optoelectronic component with the above Characteristics.

An optoelectronic component row designed according to the invention serves a maximum of n channels, the characteristic wavelength of which can be individually tuned by control currents. Examples of these component lines are wavelength-tunable laser lines, wavelength-tunable amplifier lines, wavelength-tunable filter lines, wavelength-tunable detector lines and wavelength-tunable converter lines. Each individual channel corresponds to an individually curved optical fiber. For each of these optical waveguides, an individual function y _i (x) defines the course of the maximum of the guided light field in the xy plane, ie the individual waveguide curvatures, where i is an integer, in the range 1 ≦ i ≦ n. The axial direction i follows the curvature of the optical waveguide of atomic number i, that is, it is a curved coordinate in the xy plane. In the case of a laser line, each optical waveguide consists of the laser-active zone 3 and the surrounding materials, which in the xz plane are at most by the light wavelength from the center of the light field. Above or below the xy plane there is a feedback grating 4 , the grating lines of which are tilted by a tilting angle ϕ with respect to a preferred direction. The grid area is limited in the x-direction by two interfaces at x = 0 and at x = L, these two interfaces being perpendicular to the x-axis. The feedback grating 4 lies in a region in which the amount of the intensity of the light field guided in the optical waveguide is greater than I ₀ (x) / 100, 1 ₀ (x) the intensity in the maximum of the light field in the yz plane Digit x is. For the length of the grating region L in the x direction, the feedback achieved thereby is 0.2 ≦ KL ≦ 7, where K is the coupling coefficient of the feedback grating 4 . The feedback grating 4 is designed DFB-like (DFB = distributed feedback), DBR-like (DBR = distributed bragg reflector) or has a sampled grating structure. In the latter case, a certain number of grid-free areas exist in the direction of light propagation. The feedback grid 4 can e.g. B. cause purely real index coupling, purely imaginary index coupling, or complex coupling (real and imaginary coupling). The cross-sectional shape of the feedback grid 4 (in planes which intersect the xy plane perpendicularly) is either triangular, rectangular or sinusoidal. Corresponding mixed forms are also possible, such as. B. a rectangular shape with rounded corners. For a homogeneous feedback grating 4 or a homogeneous partial area of a grating, Λ _{0 is} the grating period. The wavelength tuning is achieved by multisectioning each individual optical fiber, with each individual section being pumped with its own control current. Typically there are 2 to 3 sections per optical fiber, ie the emission wavelength of a channel is set with two to three different control currents. The wavelength of the channel _{i can be} tuned approximately in the wavelength range Δλ _i . An example of this is a DFB semiconductor laser line which emits from n optical waveguides at n different wavelengths λ _i , where i runs from 1 to n. In other words, the optoelectronic component can work simultaneously on n different frequency channels. The wavelength interval Δλ _{i of} the waveguide of atomic number i is preset by the tilting of the feedback grating (tilt angle ϕ), the grating period Λ _{0 of} the feedback grating and the corresponding curvature function of the optical waveguide y _i (x) in its absolute wavelength position. The emission wavelength λ _i is finally finely tuned by the control currents corresponding to the optical waveguide of order number i. This applies analogously to the remaining optical waveguides in the component row. Both the absolute wavelengths of the n channels and the wavelength distances between the individual channels i can be set precisely. This can be used for WDM applications such. B. component lines with equidistant frequency or wavelength spacing can be realized.

The angle α _{li, i} describes the angle between the optical waveguide of atomic number i and the normal to the component facet at the position x = 0, (left end of the grating area). The angle α _{re, i} describes the angle between the optical waveguide of atomic number i and the normal to the component facet at the point x = L, (right end of the grating area). The width of the optical waveguide can be different, which has an effect on the effective refractive index N _{eff, i} . The left and right lattice boundaries (interfaces) shown in the figures stand for directions that are excellent in terms of crystallography or component geometry. The interfaces can be cleaved, etched or lithographic lattice boundaries, cleaved or etched component boundaries, cleaved semiconductor wafer boundaries or etched boundaries on the semiconductor wafer. In the event that the component does not end at the interfaces, the optical waveguides can continue to run outside the grating area. Branches, combiners, switches, taper etc. can be located in the grid-free area. In this case, the area considered in the figures represents a section of an integrated optoelectronic circuit.

For the sake of clarity, the components off are in the illustrations strains, the angles, the waveguide widths, the Waveguide curvatures and the periods of corrugation are not shown to scale. Typically the lateral Wavelength width much larger than the grating period in the feedback grid.  

The optoelectronic designed according to the invention The component is based on some embodiments explained in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows the representation of a component line with n = 3 differently curved optical fibers (i = 1, 2, 3) in the upper part of the figure. The contacting of each individual optical fiber is interrupted twice, so that three 3-section components exist. A cross section through a feedback grating 4 of the DFB type is visible on the surface lying at the front in the perspective illustration. This feedback grid 4 extends in the xy plane over the entire area of the component row.

The dashed lines 9 show the projections of the waveguide centers on the component surface (parallel to the xy plane). The course of the center of the waveguide of atomic number i represents the waveguide curvature y _i (x). In this sense, the curved lines 9 represent the projections of the axial directions i onto the component surface. Furthermore, they give a good approximation of the course of the intensity maximum of the guided light field.

In the lower part of the figure, three curved sections along the lines 9 through the component row are shown, each with a feedback grating of the DFB type being visible, each of which has an axially differently varied grating period. The z direction is perpendicular to the xy plane. The axial direction i runs in the xy plane and follows the waveguide curvature of the optical waveguide of atomic number i. The cross section in the curved plane shows: a volume semiconductor layer 1 of conductivity type I, a volume semiconductor layer 2 of conductivity type II, an active layer 3 , a feedback grating 4 , the facet coating 5 , the separation trenches or the contact separations 6 , the metallization fields. contact pads) 7 of the individual sections on the side of the conductivity type I and the metallization 10 on the side of the conductivity type II. Due to the different curvature functions, the three components have a different length of fiber optic along the axial directions. In this example, the tilt angle ϕ of the feedback grating is very small compared to a preferred direction (ϕ = 0.5 °). The feedback grid 4 has a triangular cross section in this application example.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of the bending functions of optical waveguides 3 shows a further component array in the xy plane. Within the scope of the present solution according to the invention, the angles α, as shown in FIG. 2, are positive with regard to their sign.

FIG. 3 shows the simultaneous representation of a further xy plane (grid plane) of the component row shown in FIG. 2. The feedback grating 4 is tilted relative to a preferred direction by the tilt angle ϕ. The projection of the waveguide center into the xy plane of each optical waveguide is shown in the form of the curved line 9 . In this exemplary embodiment, each waveguide is divided into two sections by a separation trench 6 . In the present plan view, these separations are indicated by black bars and can be seen in the three cross-sections below in FIG. 1 as separation trenches 6 . Due to the separations shown, the component row in this example consists of three 2-section components.

Due to the waveguide curvature, the local tilt angle of the optical waveguide ϑ changes in the axial direction with respect to the feedback grating 4 . As a result, the effective grating period, which is present for the light field guided in the optical waveguide, changes by a factor of 1 / cosϑ compared to the grating period Λ _o in the feedback grating. This is illustrated in Fig. 4. The local tilt angle ϑ of the optical waveguide thus varies along the axial direction. For the row of components shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the angular range through which the individual waveguides pass is shown on the ϑ axis. The ordinate shows that the variation of the grating period is more efficient with larger local tilt angles of the optical waveguide ϑ, ie larger grating period changes can be achieved.

FIG. 5 shows the representation of another component row, which is based on the curvature functions shown in FIG. 2, but in which two separation trenches 6 are assigned to each waveguide. This creates three 3-section components in this component row. Each individual section has its own metallization field 7 , which is referred to in the English-language literature as a “contact pad” or “bond pad”. Each section can be controlled by an individual injection current.

FIG. 6 shows the representation of a component line which contains four optical waveguides, each of which is assigned a subdivision. This creates four 2-section components for this component line.

FIG. 7 shows the representation of a component line which contains three optical waveguides, each of which is assigned two subdivisions. This creates three 3-section components in this component row.

By a suitable choice of the curvature functions of the optical waveguide, several spectrally adjacent modes can be generated, which have almost identical threshold gains, where j _{i is} an integer in the range 1 ≦ j _i ≦ m _i . The m _i spectrally adjacent modes of the optical waveguide of atomic number i extend over the wavelength range Δλ _i . If one chooses shorter grating regions of length L and stronger curvatures, one finds spectrally broader wavelength regions Δλ _i in which spectrally adjacent modes with similar threshold amplification exist. Such a situation is realized for a row of components in FIG. 8 by four specially curved waveguides. The wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ , Δλ ₂ , Δλ ₃ and Δλ ₄ have been positioned in their absolute spectral positions with the help of the geometric parameters of the curvature functions in such a way that their spectral limits overlap only slightly. The curvature functions are also characterized by δ ² y / δx ² <0. With increasing x there is a falling behavior of all curvature functions y ₁ (x) of the component row (see, for example, FIG. 6) and

α _{li, 1} <α _{re, 1} ; α _{re, 1} ∼ α _{li, 2} ; α _{li, 2} <α _{re, 2} ; α _{re, 2} ∼ α _{li, 3} ; α _{li, 3} <α _{re, 3} and α _{re, 3} ∼ α _{li, 4} .

The principle of wavelength tuning is schematically explained with reference to FIG. 9 for one of the multi-section components in a row. Fig. 9 shows the threshold gain as a function of wavelength. In Fig. 9a and 9c enter the clear circles threshold gains and the spectral positions of the individual modes again when the laser device is pumped homogeneously throughout the entire resonator. In this example, the axial variation of the grating period was chosen such that the threshold gains of six spectrally adjacent modes have the same value. These modes are numbered from left to right (j = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, m = 6). The dashed line is used to guide the eye. In order to address a certain mode preferentially among the equivalent modes, a suitable inhomogeneous current injection is used, ie a special current strength is selected for the control current of each individual section. In FIG. 9 a, such a special situation of inhomogeneous current injection is schematically represented by the filled circles, which enables a minimal threshold gain for the mode j = 5 and thus addresses this in a targeted manner. The other modes, which were equivalent to mode j = 5 under homogeneous current injection, are increased in their threshold gain by this special inhomogeneous current injection. The filled circles indicate the threshold amplifications and spectral positions of the individual modes when the component is pumped inhomogeneously in the entire resonator area, the solid line again serving only to guide the eye. In order to tune the selected mode j = 5, one or two injection currents are varied in a suitable manner, which results in a wavelength change (tuning) of 1 to 2 nm, which is represented in FIG. 9b by the horizontal, thick double arrow . In the wavelength tuning, the entire profile shifts primarily, as shown in Fig. 9b by the two profiles shown in dashed lines. A slight deformation of the profile only occurs in the second place. In order to select and tune a different mode, a different combination of the injection currents, ie a different inhomogeneous current injection profile, must be used. Such a situation is shown for the selection of the mode j = 2 in Fig. 9c by the filled circles. In order to tune the mode j = 2, one or two injection streams are again suitably varied, as is indicated schematically by the horizontal double arrow. A horizontal double arrow corresponds to each of the six equivalent modes, which indicates the wavelength tuning of this mode. As a result, the entire wavelength tuning range of the multi-section DFB laser with a specially curved optical waveguide is substantially larger than that of the multi-section DFB laser with a straight optical fiber, as indicated by the vertical, dashed lines. This wavelength tuning concept virtually combines the tuning ranges of several multi-section DFB lasers with spectrally closely adjacent wavelengths of the Bragg modes.

This using the example of a component in a row The principle of wavelength tuning is demonstrated in figuratively to the remaining components of the Row applied.

By using curved optical fibers for Generation of the special axial variation of the However, there are no additional costs for the grid period technological manufacture of this tunable Component row on.

Fig. 10 shows the threshold gain as a function of wavelength for another component array with three differently curved optical waveguides (i = 1, 2, 3). In this case, the curvature functions are selected so that with axially homogeneous current injection per optical waveguide i there are six spectrally adjacent modes which have a similarly low threshold gain. The wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ , Δλ ₂ and Δλ ₃ have been positioned in their absolute spectral positions using the geometric parameters of the curvature functions in such a way that they spectrally overlap, as in the case i = 1 and i = 2, or do not overlap, as in the case i = 2 and i = 3. The upper part of the figure shows the case in which the current injection in each optical waveguide takes place homogeneously in the axial direction. Through inhomogeneous current injection (made possible by multisectioning the optical fibers), individual modes can be selected from the six modes and the wavelength can be tuned. For the optical waveguide i = 1, the mode j ₁ = 2 is selected in the case (b), the mode j ₁ = 5 in the case (c). For the optical waveguide i = 3, the mode j ₃ = 6 is selected in case (d) selected, in case (e) the mode j ₃ = 3.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment with three waveguides, wherein each waveguide is assigned 2 subdivisions, so that three 3-section components exist. This example is based on the example shown in FIG. 1, but shows possible configurations with regard to the active layers 3 and with regard to the contacting on the side of the volume semiconductor layer 1 of conductivity type I. In this example, the optical and electronic confinement is implemented for each of the 3 waveguides with a so-called mushroom structure. In the upper part of the picture, three mushroom structures are shown in cross-section at the right interface. The material 11 is semi-insulating. In this example, the current injection into the curved active layers is realized via the correspondingly curved contact strips 8 . In this example, charge carriers of conductivity type I flow from a contacting field 7 via the contacting strip 8 into the volume semiconductor layer 1 . From there, these charge carriers are injected into the active layer 3 .

In the following, a first numerical example is given in which the wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ , Δλ ₂ , Δλ ₃ and Δλ _{4 are connected} to one another in their absolute spectral positions. In this case, the approximate sign is almost an equal sign in the following: α _{li, 1} <α _{re, 1} ; α _{re, 1} ∼ α _{li, 2} ; α _{li, 2} <α _{re, 2} ; α _{re, 2} ∼ α _{li, 3} ; α _{li, 3} <α _{re, 3} ; α _{re, 3} ∼ α _{li, 4} and α _{li, 4} <α _{re, 4} . Furthermore, all optical waveguides of the component line show a curvature in which ϑ ² ylϑx ² <0 (see, for example, FIG. 6). The effective refractive index in this case is N _eff = 3.22785 and, for reasons of simplicity, is assumed to be wavelength-independent for this example. Furthermore, let the tilt angle of the feedback grating ϕ = 10 ° and the grating period in the homogeneous feedback grating Λ _o = 237 nm. The wavelengths λ _min = 2N _eff Λ _o / cosϑ _{min, i} and λ _{max, i} = 2 _Neff Λ ₀ n, i / cosϑ _{max, i} span the wavelength range Δλ _i = λ _{max, i} - λ _{min, i} . In this example _, ist _{min, i} is the local tilt angle of the optical waveguide with respect to the feedback grating 4 at the point x = 0. ϑ _{max, i} is the local tilt angle of the optical waveguide with respect to the feedback grating 4 at the point x = L.

Table 1 shows on this basis Embodiment for a laser line with 4 channels.

Table 1

This means that the component line with four multi-section lasers can cover the entire range from 1.53 µm to 1.56 µm by wavelength adjustment of all four lasers. This example can be generalized as follows:

• 1. wavelength overlap of the wavelength ranges of the individual channels (e.g. FIG. 8),
• 2. No wavelength overlap of the wavelength ranges of the individual channels,
• 3. All wavelength ranges Δλ _i are different and not 7.5 nm as in this example.

Next, a second numerical example is given, which corresponds to a further row of components with four differently curved optical fibers. In this example, the wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ , Δλ ₂ , Δλ ₃ and Δλ _{4 are} not completely contiguous in their absolute spectral positions. All optical waveguides have no turning point in the waveguide curvature functions. They are all curved in a manner which is shown qualitatively in FIG. 7 (curvature δ ² y / δx ² <0).
α _{li, 1} = -4 °; α _{re, 1} = -3.2 °; α _{li, 2} = -2.5 °; α _{re, 2} = -1.1 °; α _{li, 3} = - 0.2 °; α right _{, 3} = + 0.8 °; α _{li, 4} = 1.3 ° and α _{re, 4} = 2.9 °.

Next, a third numerical example will be described, which corresponds to a further component row with five differently curved optical waveguides. In this example, the wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ , Δλ ₂ , Δλ ₃ , Δλ ₄ and Δλ ₅ overlap in some cases in their absolute spectral positions, but not in other cases. All optical fibers have no inflection point in the waveguide curvatures. They are all curved in a manner which is shown qualitatively in FIG. 7 (curvature δ ² y / δx ² <0). α _{li, 1} = -5 °; α _{re, 1} = -4 °; α _{li, 2} = -3.3 °; α _{re, 2} = -1.4 °; α _{li, 3} = -2.2 °; α right _{, 3} = -0.8 °; α _{li, 4} = 0.1 °; α right _{, 4} = 4.9 °; α _{li, 5} = 1.3 ° and α _{re, 5} = 4.4 °.

The invention can be used in photonic components find which ones on different waveguide channels  work and which on DFB (English = distributed feedback) Grids, DBR (English = distributed Bragg reflector) grids or axially multiple interrupted lattice structures "sampled gratings") based. In the latter case there is Grid area alternating from grid fields and grid-free areas, the corresponding lengths in axial direction are additionally variable. The The principle is independent of special designs different photonic components applicable if these based on optical feedback gratings.  

Reference list

1

Volume semiconductor layer of conductivity type I

2nd

Volume semiconductor layer of conductivity type II

3rd

active layer

4th

Feedback grid

5

Facet remuneration

6

Separation trench (contact separation)

7

Metallization fields (contact pads) of the individual sections on the conductivity type I side

8th

Metallization strips, which the Waveguide curvatures follow, on the side of the Volume semiconductor layer

1

of conductivity type I

9

Projection of the waveguide center (= axial direction) onto the component surface (parallel to the xy plane)

10th

Metallization on the side of conductivity type II

11

semi-insulating material
ϕ Tilt angle of the feedback grating
i atomic number of the optical fiber
ϑlocal tilt angle of the optical fiber
Λ ₀

Grid period in the homogeneous part of the feedback grid
y _i

(x) curvature function of the waveguide of atomic number i
α _th

Threshold reinforcement
Δλ _i

Wavelength range (wavelength interval)
L Length of the grid field in the x direction
j _i

Code of the modes of the waveguide of atomic number i
δ ²

y / δx ²

Strength and direction of the waveguide's curvature function
N _eff

effective refractive index of the optical fiber
α _{li, i}

Angle between the waveguide of atomic number i and the x-direction at x = 0 (left boundary)
α right _{, i}

Angle between the waveguide of atomic number i and the x-direction at x = L (right boundary)
I ₀

(x) Maximum amount of the intensity of the light field guided in the waveguide at point x
K coupling coefficient
λ _i

Emission wavelength of the waveguide of atomic number i
Index right reference to right interface
Index left in relation to the left boundary
λ _{min, i}

Wavelength of the mode with the lowest wavelength among the modes with the lowest threshold gain of the waveguide with the atomic number i
λ _{max, i}

Wavelength of the mode with the largest wavelength among the modes with the lowest threshold gain of the waveguide with the atomic number i
Δλ _i

Wavelength range over which the m _i

Extend fashions

Claims (33)

1.wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component which consists of a volume semiconductor layer ( 2 ) of conductivity type II, at least one active layer ( 3 ), n individually curved optical fibers, at least one feedback grating ( 4 ), a volume semiconductor layer ( 1 ) of conductivity type I and a contacting arrangement, that the entire grid area of the feedback grid ( 4 ) has the length L in the x-direction, that two interfaces are perpendicular to the x-axis, the left interface at the left end of the grid area at x = 0 and the right interface at the right end of the grid area at x = L is that the contacting arrangement assigned to each optical waveguide on the side of the volume semiconductor layer ( 1 ) of conductivity type I is interrupted in the axial direction and on the side of the volume semiconductor layer ( 2 ) of conductivity type II is continuous in the axial direction, that in the active / n p Chicht / en ( 3 ) of the optical waveguide charge carriers of conductivity types I and II are injected, and that at least one separation trench ( 6 ) is arranged over at least one of the optical waveguides, characterized in that the depth, width, lateral position and material of the separation trench ( 6 ) are dimensioned between the individually contactable sections delimited by the separation trench ( 6 ) via a curved optical waveguide such that there is always an ohmic resistance of at least 10 ohms between every two sections delimited by the separation trench ( 6 ), so that each an individually adjustable current can be fed via the metallization field ( 7 ) above the optical waveguide of atomic number i, and that the curvature function y _i (x) of the optical waveguide of atomic number i is determined by the following conditions, which have an identical potential of the metallization fields ( 7 ) assume

• that at least three spectrally adjacent modes of the code number j _i are present, which have the lowest threshold amplifications of all modes of the optical waveguide of order number i,
• - That the threshold gains of the spectrally adjacent modes differ from each other by at most 4% of their absolute values, where j _i = 1, 2,. . . m _i , where each of the spectrally adjacent modes has a threshold gain difference of at least 8% in relation to the other modes of the optical waveguide of atomic number i,
• - That the spectrum of the waveguide of atomic number i with the curvature function y _i (x) has exactly j _i spectrally adjacent modes which extend over the wavelength range Δλ _i = λ _{max, i} - λ _{min, i} , where i is an integer in the range 1 ≦ i ≦ n is
• - and that the wavelength ranges of the n different optical fibers are spectrally determined by the relationship | λ _{max, k} - λ _{min, k + 1} | <(Δλ _k + Δλ _{k + 1} ) / 10 are to be described, where k is an integer 1 ≦ k ≦ (n-1).

2. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the for X-axis perpendicular interfaces with the Component boundaries coincide in the x direction, where L represents the component length in the x direction. 3. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that at least an optical fiber on at least one Grid boundary breaks through the interface and into one Area outside the grid area x <0 at the left boundary and outside the grid area x <L continues at the right interface. 4. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the Grid area a section of an integrated is optoelectronic circuit. 5. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ ,. . ., Δλ _n spectrally overlap. 6. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the wavelength ranges Δλ ₁ ,. . ., Δλ _n do not overlap spectrally. 7. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the Wavelength ranges of selected optical fibers spectrally overlap.   8. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that all optical waveguides of the component line in the xy coordinate system have curvature functions with δ ² y / δx ² <0. 9. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that all optical waveguides of the component line in the xy coordinate system have curvature functions with δ ² y / δx ² <0. 10. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that all optical waveguides of the component line in the xy coordinate system have curvature functions with both δ ² y / δx ² <0 and with δ ² y / δx ² <0. 11. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to Claims 1 and 8, characterized in that the angle α _{li, i} between the optical waveguide of atomic number i and the x direction at the point x = 0, that is to say on the left boundary surface, and the angle α _{re, i} between the optical waveguide of atomic number i and the x-direction at the point x = L, that is to say at the right interface, is in a characteristic relation with the corresponding angles of the other optical waveguides, where
α _{li, 1} <α _{re, 1} ; | α _{re, 1} - α _{li, 2} | <0.2 °;
α _{li, 2} <α _{re, 2} ; | α _{re, 2} - α _{li, 3} | <0.2 °; . . .;
α _{li, n-1} <α _{re, n-1} ; | α _{re, n-1} - α _{li, n} | <0.2 °;
α _{li, n} <α _{re, n} . 12. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to Claims 1 and 9, characterized in that the angle α _{li, i} between the optical waveguide of atomic number i and the x direction at the point x = 0, that is to say on the left boundary surface, and the angle α _{re, i is} in a characteristic relation between the optical waveguide of atomic number i and the x-direction at the point x = L, that is to say on the right boundary, with the corresponding angles of the other optical waveguides, where
α _{li, 1} <α _{re, 1} ; | α _{re, 1} - α _{li, 2} | <0.2 °;
α _{li, 2} <α _{re, 2} ; | α _{re, 2} - α _{li, 3} | <0.2 °; . . .;
α _{li, n-1} <α _{re, n-1} ; | α _{re, n-1} - α _{li, n} | <0.2 °;
α _{li, n} <α _{re, n} . 13. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the volume semiconductor layer ( 1 ) of conductivity type I has an n-type line and the volume semiconductor layer ( 2 ) of conductivity type II has a p-type line. 14. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the volume semiconductor layer ( 1 ) of conductivity type I has a p-line and the volume semiconductor layer ( 2 ) of conductivity type II has an n-line. 15. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the feedback grating ( 4 ) is complex and includes index and gain coupling. 16. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the feedback grating ( 4 ) is complex and includes index and loss coupling. 17. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the feedback grating ( 4 ) is purely imaginary and includes loss coupling. 18. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the feedback grating ( 4 ) is purely imaginary and includes gain coupling. 19. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the feedback grating ( 4 ) is real and contains pure index coupling. 20. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that any curved, but not crossing Optical fibers are used. 21. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the optical fibers is not curved. 22. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the angles ϕ, ϑ, α _{re, i} and α _{li, i are} less than 20 °. 23. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the feedback grating ( 4 ) is, inter alia, in a range in which the intensity of the light field guided in the optical waveguide has an amount which is greater than I _0/100 , I _{0 being} the Intensity is in the maximum of the light field, and that the relation 0.2 ≦ KL ≦ 7 applies to the feedback achieved thereby with the coupling coefficient (K) and the length of the grating field in the x direction (L). 24. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the separation trenches ( 6 ) between the individual sections have a width of at most L / 10 in the x direction. 25. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the feedback grating ( 4 ) have at least one phase shift. 26. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the feedback grating ( 4 ) in the xy plane are varied in the grating period. 27. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the optical fibers in the axial direction at least one section in the lateral direction are narrowed. 28. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the optical fibers in the axial direction a section at least once in the lateral direction are widened. 29. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one optical waveguide of the component row has a number of separation trenches ( 6 ) which is different from the number of separation trenches ( 6 ) of at least one neighboring waveguide. 30. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that all optical waveguides of the component line have an identical number of separation trenches ( 6 ). 31. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that selected, non-neighboring sections at least of an optical fiber electrically conductive with each other are connected. 32. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the metallization ( 10 ) on the side of the conductivity type II is interrupted. 33. Wavelength-tunable optoelectronic component according to claim 1, characterized in that the material in the separation trench ( 6 ) is gaseous.